The project—led by Cambridge criminologist Manuel Eisner and historian Stephanie Brown—has created interactive maps plotting homicide cases across three English cities in the 14th century:
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London: ~142 murders between 1300–1340, including maps for sanctuary-derived deaths, accidents, sudden deaths, and prison deaths
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York: ~130 homicide cases from 1345–1385
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Oxford: Detailed inquests from 1342–1348 (with some earlier years partial) showing an exceptionally high homicide rate—estimates around 60–100 per 100,000 inhabitants—largely driven by violent incidents involving university students
The maps offer rich storytelling: clicking a location pin reveals translations of coroners’ records, weapon types, verdicts, and geographic patterns of medieval violence. One infamous case charted is the 1337 public murder of priest John Ford, allegedly orchestrated by noblewoman Ela FitzPayne in an act of revenge—with high-profile political implications and standout for its location in wealthy Westcheap (Cheapside), London.
The project has appealed not only to historians but also as a teaching tool—used in history, criminology, and digital humanities to spark discussions on legal development, spatial justice, archival silences, and medieval society.
Check them out here: https://medievalmurdermap.co.uk/
